Boss XL Mag's Top Businesses, Artists, DJs, and Talent at the First-Ever Blavity Fest

Blavity Fest made a powerful entrance into the cultural scene this past weekend, debuting in Atlanta as a dynamic fusion of Black entrepreneurship, creativity, and culture. 

Saturday’s schedule was jam-packed, with many sessions introducing branding, monetizing, and lifestyle tips. For experienced creatives, it felt like familiar territory, but the insights were encouraging and accessible, setting the tone for growth, clarity, and connection. Sunday was more relaxed with networking sessions, seminars on the main stage, and ending with a gratifying, acoustic surprise, soul-saving session by Kirk Franklin. 

For new content creators, it was a launchpad. For experienced pros, it was full of reminders of the value of the constant, tried and true, branding and strategy conversations. Blavity Fest succeeded in doing what few events can—cultivating a space that feels professional, and purposeful for creatives. Whether you came for the branding gems, the soulful art, the booming beats, or the deep talks on dating, finance, and lifestyle Blavity Fest 2025 proved that Black brilliance is thriving. It seems Blavity is on to something, in providing a place for creatives to show up as professionals to be taken seriously for what they have to offer. It ultimately offered a refreshing mix of inspiration, education, and connection.

Yet what made Blavity Fest truly impactful were the powerful voices, curated vendor experiences, and soul-shifting moments throughout the weekend. Boss XL was on the ground covering it all, and here’s our highlight reel of the top brands, voices, and vibes you need to know. Please believe, these are the ones to watch.

Top Info Sessions: Game-Changing Knowledge from the Best in the Business

Ronne Brown: The Branding Alchemist

When Ronne Brown took the mic, the room leaned in! With her signature blend of confidence, vibrance, and strategy, she broke down exactly how to be personable yet powerful in a saturated market. She didn’t just preach branding, she embodied it. From revealing the most lucrative income streams to which platforms yield the best returns, her session was a goldmine for creators ready to monetize with integrity.

Tiffany “The Budgetnista” Aliche: Finance That Feels Good

Tiffany brought financial literacy to life with her warm, animated energy. Known for making money management accessible, she delivered real strategies on controlling impulse spending, choosing the right insurance for every life season and reason, and maximizing revenue while building a personal brand. Her advice was intimidating, yet it was empowering. It was real-life and real business advice that will level you up for sure. 

Top Vendors Who Understood the Assignment

While the marketplace buzzed with an array of fashion, beauty, wellness, and artisan brands, a few vendors stood out in terms of branding, engagement, and community impact.

1. Tinted – This brand is redefining glam and makeup inclusivity for melanin-rich tones. The Tinted team was hands-on, testing shades of their Tinted moisturizer, helping the girlies keep up by creating a product with SPF for sun protection, perfect shades, and a glowing finish making every day easy to look your best, even on the most casual days.  Tinted was very personable in educating Blavity goers about their mission and ingredients by impressing the importance of skin protection from the sun by including SPF in their products. Their booth attracted a constant flow of attendees looking to test shades and support products built specifically for our skin. This booth was hot, and so was the product. 

2. ProBlack Health – This supplement and wellness company is walking the walk when it comes to Black health equity. Co-founded by doctors, their products are not only tailored to support common health disparities in the Black community but 50% of profits are reinvested into health organizations serving Black populations. That’s a mission you can feel good about while boosting your immune system. This booth also had a constant flow of attendees, and 

3. Black Mamas Matter Alliance (BMMA) – An important presence, BMMA brought attention to the often-overlooked issue of Black maternal health. Their presence at Blavity Fest served as both advocacy and education, and their booth was a must-stop for those passionate about reproductive justice and wellness in our communities. It was heartwarming to see people at that boot whether it was for themselves, for a loved one, or just for education's sake.

Artists Who Brought Culture to Canvas

The art scene at Blavity Fest was equally powerful, showcasing creators who captured the beauty, complexity, and creativity of the Black experience.

Maya Papaya Art – Maya’s work was a colorful, soulful explosion of cultural pride. At first glance, they look like paintings, but its actually all wood-carved. The prints and canvas pieces centered the Black experience through all eras and angles; blending Afrocentric symbolism with modern vibrance. Every piece was a conversation starter. If you’re an art collector and/or enthusiast, this is an artist to follow.

@lcxart (Instagram) – This booth put on a show! Painting at her booth like a Black Bob Ross was just so soothing and stopped people in awe. The art at this booth seemed to be inspired by strong black personalities, booth notables like Nipsy Husstle and Sade, from figures we can imagine as our mothers or sisters. Stylistically, it seemed to be deep, emotionally intelligent portraits and surrealist Black expressions, this artist brought an introspective vibe to the vendor floor. Each image pulled you in, inviting you to experience Black moments through a different lens.

Best DJs: Spinning Soul into the Soundtrack

One thing is for sure; Blavity knows how to identify talent. The musical energy at Blavity Fest was undeniable, thanks in large part to the DJ Battle, that set the vibe and brought the crowd to life.

DJ CB5

A master of smooth transitions and fresh blends, DJ CB5 moved the crowd with an effortlessly innovative set. His mixes weren’t just beats, they were a journey through Black music history, threaded with a modern twist. Whether it was throwback jams or current hits, CB5 knew exactly when to drop the beat, when to let it breathe, and what lyrics and rhythms would expose you to the type of vibe you couldn’t help but move to.

SB Thee DJ

SB brought more than just turntables, she brought the IT factor. Her mixing was top-tier, but what truly set her apart were her RnB-vibing vocals that layered seamlessly over her set. Her mixes weren’t just beats, they were a journey through Black music through the ages; from mixing Teddy Pendergrass over a Too Short beat to her singing SWV’s Weak herself, her hallmark is threading old school classics with a fresh modern twist. It was the Northstar that led us into her world and what it sounded like. It felt like we were at a DJ set and a live concert rolled into one. She gave us groove, heart, and vibe in equal measure.

Most Influential Speaker: Ryan Catchings

While the speaker lineup included a mix of influencers, business leaders, and cultural critics, Ryan Catchings easily stole the show with his impactful session on relationships and self-worth. It was a fresh topic that stood out and touched the hearts and minds of the audience. It was a break from the persistent branding, mental health, and lifestyle hack conversations, to actionable steps to make holistic improvements for oneself and the lives of the people they impact, for everyday life.  In a discussion that blurred the lines between self-reflection and truth-telling, Catchings spoke boldly about how to break generational curses, establish emotional standards, and filter the dating pool with more clarity and purpose.

His talk wasn’t just about dating; it was about healing. He spoke directly to the audience's ability to look within, challenging many of us to reconsider what love looks like beyond trauma and performance. His session left attendees buzzing, and reevaluating. In a surface-level worlds, with surface-level content, Catchings brought mind, and soul-level guidance.

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